Finding Money For Students In College

Are you thinking about higher education to improve your prospects but worried about funding it? Well, extra money for students in college is available, some of which does not need to be repaid, but you need to know a few basics first. The primary one being that once you know where you are going, you should apply very quickly for any funding.

Cash is scarce these days, so don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, to get money for students in college you need to know what you are entitled to apply for in order to optimise your chance of success. Find out what you need to do even before you are able to apply for funding, so you are ready to move fast.

If you live in the US, you should first seek out the Financial Aid Advisor at the campus of your choice as they are able to give you all the information you need. To be make things easier, you can apply for financial aid online for a lot of the grants and scholarships.

A brief outline of money for students in college that could be available to you will include, but are not limited to, Pell grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity grants and vocational grants and scholarships such as those aimed at law school, medical schools and those for ex military personal.

A Pell Grant is awarded by the US Department of Education and is one of the most key sources of funding and is based entirely on financial needs. Funding is awarded via the college and competition is intense so you need to apply quickly. To date, the maximum available is just over $4000. Supplemental Education Opportunity grants are also based on need and are dispersed via institutions.

If you are unable to get sufficient non-returnable funding, you may consider getting a student loan. You need to be a US citizen and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application (this can be done online). The good thing about some of these loans is that there are no credit checks and you will have the option not to make any repayments until after you finish your education. When you complete an FAFSA application, you can then apply for different loans such as a low interest Stafford or Perkins loan (you can apply for both). Parents can also take out loans for their children which are repayable immediately. Such loans are referred to as Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS loans).

The above is just touching on the available sources of money for students in college. Do your research while you are deciding where to go, once you know, contact the Financial Aid Advisor at your institution and apply for funding as soon as possible. Don’t leave your applications in the hope there will be funding available when you get around to it; you are likely to be disappointed if you do.